T-shirt scarf

I have made many of these before but decided to get pictures of ones I intend to sell. The ones I have made for us, family and friends have been very well loved. They are like snowflakes, no two are alike. Many have panels from the Relay for Life, and some of the money I make from these scarves I plan on donating to the cause. I also let others know that if you have your own t-shirts and want one please contact me and I will do custom work.

Road Map Earrings

I wanted a cool pair of earrings but did not want to buy them. So I found a pair of earring posts in an old jewelry box, a coffee can lid, a ceral box and an old road map. I just cut the shapes out of the plastic coffee can lid and poked small holes in one end. I happen to have a small leather punch I used to make the holes, but a needle would work too. I used a glue stick and after I cut the cerael box and road map the same shapes I glued then together. You only need to put the road map on one side since the black plasic will cover the backside. I then put it all on the earring posts and there you have it. I have also used soda bottles, CD cases, snow pan sleds (I used a scroll saw to cut that, going slowly and spraying the material often to reduce the friction and heat). They will  not hold up in the rain but if you sealed them or used all plastic they will outlast us.

Slinky's new dog sled

Last year we recieved a phone call while on vacation. Our wiener dog Slinky had jumped off a bed, he has always been a daredevil, and after 8 hours he could no longer use his back legs. To make a long story shorter he is a HAPPY, engergetic dog that has no idea his back end no longer functions. He will play fetch for hours, play with the big dogs, take on raccoons in his yard, chase the cat, sleep in bed with us, use ramps, etc etc etc. He has a custom made wheel chair with interchangable wheels and drag bags, these are arms and legs cut from old clothing with leg holes cut into them and to hold his legs up, many with padding for his butt, HE LOVES TO RUN!!!!! He also has many ramps through out the house and outside so he can get up and down the steps to follow us around.
He wanted to go outside but I did not want him to drag his legs in the snow, so I grabbed a 1 gallon milk jug we had just finished and my scissors. With a few holes punched in it on the sides and some t-shirt string, he now has a custom sled that works great. Watch him go!!!!!!There will no stopping him this winter.

Dog fur scarf

Keisha showed me how to spin wool. I didn't have any wool, so I put the word out to friends that I needed some dog fur from a long haired, large dog. Sure enough I had some offers. This scarf was made from the late Dozer, a New Finland, he was HUGE. Mike made me a drop spindle with a drum stick and wooden disc was was suppose to be the bottom of a pine needle basket. We found the carders at the local thrift store, Once complete and many soaks in luke warm soapy water and drying in the sun you can no longer small the dog. Plus I have found thru a little bit of research that dog fur is suppose to be about 60% warmer then sheeps wool. There are many videos on the web that will show you how to use a drop spindle and I am sure the local dog groomer might be able to help you with getting the fur, or just ask your friends.

Shirley Wood - antique dress form

Meet Shirley Wood, so named because she Shirley Wood if she could, named by our dear friend Tyler. The dress form underneath is an antique, that has seen better days. So we picked up a styrofoam head at a local thrift store after Halloween so it was super cheap and I painted her up. She wears a wig a friend gave us after he was done using it and the earrings are clip on ones made with a plastic binder cover and a coffee can lid. We change her clothes with the season and many think she is real at first. Also, the dress form was a gift from an old neighbor that was a clothing designer who was moving and could not take it with her. It was a thank you for being there for her when she needed me.

T shirt crocheted basket

We decided to do a few craft shows and needed something to hold our recycled business cards in. The cards are made from printing on the back of cereal boxes then cut out. The basket was made by cutting some t-shirts into long strips and making a t-shirt yard, then following the crochet pattern for any heavy weight basket. I just wing mine, after crocheting for most of my life I find it easier to make up my own patterns. This basket turned out to be about 12" in diameter and stood about 8" tall, I rolled down the edge about 2" so the basket would hold its shape better. Worked out very well, and had a slouchy look to it. It is holding up great and when it gets dirty it just gets tossed into the wash,like any dirty t-shirt

Storage bench

We decided we wanted bench style seating at our dining table. With us everything is about multi purpose function. We found 2 old, stained, unloved, stoage boxes at the local flea market and got them both for $10. Mike added feet with some old lumber we had laying around, stained them with a free sample can of ebony stain, then put a clear coat of polyurethane on. The outcome is amazing. He even left the old ropes that were attached to the sides, makes it super easy to move around. Also the top comes off to allow for perfect storage. It matches our dining table perfectly, like a they were made for each other :-)

T shirt carpet runner

We needed a runner carpet for our entry. With wintertime, rocks, salt, dirt etc get drug into the house. I had LOTS of black. white and grey t-shirts that were given to me so I cut them apart into strips then crocheted them back together to make this durable carpet runner. The overall length is about 7 feet and the width is about 3 feet. It has worked for many winters and when it gets dirty we just wash like any old t-shirt. It also helps keep your feet warm when you take your boots off.

Wine box Guitar

Mike was given a wine box and the creation started. He cut 2 weiner dogs on the front, we have 2, used misc pieces and part, and old guitar neck. The sound is awesome and looks even more amazing. Except for the strings it is completely made with recycled materials.

Handmade pirate costume

We went to a pirate themed murder mystery party and we needed costumes. I was a standard pirate and Mike was the Innkeeper. So I went online and did  little research and here is the outcomes. My hat was made following this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvopk72Bx3Y&feature=plcp&noredirect=1 I made it from an old pair of suede pants a friend gave me, The rest of the leg parts are being used in a pair of boots. The top is an old top I had for years that needed a purpose. The corset I also used the link for, however after the first attempt I kind of winged the rest, oh that fabric was from another project. The pants came from my jobs lost and found. If you forget your stuff you have 90 days to call us. If you don't, well some of it comes to me :-) The boots are my Burningman boots that I have worn there for about 5 seasons, originally bought at the thrift store. The necklace I made from some cording, I had acquired someplace and a beautiful stone, once again found laying around. It is amazing what you see laying around when you really look. The pouch I made from scraps pieces of suede and some suede I had left over from who knows what LOL.

Mike wanted a large apron, so I grabbed a white sheet I got free from a hotels stained sheet give away LOL The vest was one my grandma crocheted YEARS ago in NJ. The pouch, yes same scrap suede pieces. Now the gun is most amazing. Mike grabbed a few pieces of wood, black electrical tape and a long funnel and turned it into this LOL The swords are both from cardboard, electrical tape and duct tape.